Disk sorting machine



T. ALLAH.

DISK SORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NIAR.28. 1919.

1,323, 14.5. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY T. ALLATT.

DISK SORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAR. 28.19l9, 1,323,145, Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nllhnii s [Q km brR O 0 W O O O O O O O O O T. ALLATT.

DISK SORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 28. l9l9.

- v Patented Nov. 25,,1919.

' 3 SHEETSHEI:/T a.

INVENTOR BY %M ATTORNEY UNITE STATES PATENT o EI o.

THOMAS ALLATT, 0 N W YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL coEKcolvrrelvir,

or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A conPonA'rIoNo NEW YORK,

DISK-SORTING MAcHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALLATT, a sub ect of the King of GreatBritain, and

a resident of New York, inthe county of with a view to remove thedefective-or objectionable ones. 7

In machines of this type, the disks are fed by suitable means onto the'conveyer, the attendant sitting next to the said conveyer examining andsorting the same as they travel past the seat. The disks arecontinuously fed onto the conveyer andtravel thereon in a mass, a few,say two or three, one on top of another, so that the attendant iscompelled first to separate the disks in order to be able" to inspectand sort the same.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple andefficient means for separating and distributing the disks on theconveyer so that they move in a continuous stream past the attendant butone deep, or in other words side by side, but never one on top ofanother.

With these and other objects in View which will more fully appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thecombination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be madein the size and proportion of the several parts and details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom-the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings,in whichzv Figure 1 is a verticalcentralsection taken through a disk sorting machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 .is a section taken online 22 .of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line .3 of Fig.- 2, n alarg r scal 4 and 5 are vertical sections, on a larger scale, takenthrough the separating and distributing means; and Fig; 6 is a similarsectiontaken through a detail of construction of .said separating anddistributing means.

1 In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a frame, supported by legsor standards 11. On this frame is mounted a screen 12, comprising aperforated plate 13, having side flanges 14:. These side flanges areconnected .with the frame 10 by resilient slats 15, to permit of avibrating or'reciprocatingmotion of said screen. The screen receives thecork disks from a receptacle '16, the'means for supplying the disks fromthe said receptacle to the said screen being not shown, as they do notform part of the present invention. Vibrating orfreciprocatlng motion isimparted to the screen by means of a crank 17 on adriving shaft 18, thelatter beingrotatably mounted on the frame 10 andreceiving motion from:any

the intermediary of a belt 19 that runs over a pulley 20 on thesaid'drivingshaft; The crank is connected by-a, preferably, flexible rod21. with the screen, one end of said rod being attached to a bushing22ion the pin 23 0f the crank, and the other end of said rod being fixedto the forward end of said screen, as clearly appears from Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The screen is inclined toward its open front end, deliveringthe disks to a conveyer 24 of the belt-type. i

' The belt of he conveyer runs in the wellknown manner over rollers, oneof the same, denoted by the numeral 25, being shown in the drawings,receiving motion, from any suitable source of power, in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig.1 ofthe drawings. The acting portion of the belt,that is to say that part thereof which transports the disks from thescreen forward, is disposed a slight distance below the screen and isarranged below the distributing and 'sepa rating means 26. This meanscomprises a transverse bar 27 that is suspended from a transverse'shaft28 on the frame 10 by arms 29, the upper ends of said arms beinghookshaped, as shownat 80, and in engagement Specification of LettersPatent. Patented NQ .:25, 1919. l Application filed March 28, 1919.Serial No. 285,871.

suitable source of power, for instance by with the shaft 28, therebypermitting of a permit the disks to pass below the same on the beltconveyer side by side, butnever one ontop of another. The bar 27 isconnected with the screen 12 by, preferably, resilient slats 27, so thatit moves with the said screen.

With the bar 27 is associated a rake 31, including spaced teeth 82,which are loosely mount-ed upon a rod 33, that is oscillatably journaledin lugs 3-1, the latter extending forward of and being attached tothebar 27.

The teeth extend in rear of the bar 27, resting upon a transversesupport 85, that is fixedly attached to levers 36, which, in turn, arerigidly secured to the rod 33. To the free end of one of these levers ispivoted a connecting rod 37, the other end of which is fiXed to a sleeve38, that is drawn over a pin 39 on a bell crank lever 40, the latterbeing fulcrumed at 41 to oneof the side flanges 1a of the screen 12. Tothe bell crank lever is furthermore pivoted at 42 a link as, the otherend of which is pivoted at 14 to a flexible connecting rod 45, one endof which is attached to a bushingl6 on the pin 47 of a crank &8, that iskeyed or otherwise secured to the driving shaft 18. The other end ofsaid flexible connecting rod is secured to a rearwardly inclined trough49. that is disposed below the screen 12 and suspended from the frame 10byresilient slats 50.

The screen and trough move in'opposite directions, the trough receivingthe broken disks, chips, etc, from the screen and de' livering the sameinto .a receptacle 51 below the discharge end of said trough.

The teeth 32 of the rake arespaced apart, a distance that is greaterthan the diameter of the disks to be sorted, by suitablespacing means,for instance in the form of sleeves '52, that are drawn'over the rod 33.p The free ends of the teeth extend downward toward the acting portionof the belt conveyer and in their lowermost position (Fig. 4) are spacedfrom the said conveyer a distance that is, preferably, smaller than thethick ness of the disks on the conveyer.

The operation of this'deviceis as fol 'lows:-The disks, to be sorted,are supplied from the receptaclel6 in either a continuous orintermittent stream onto the screen 12, which advances the same to theconveyer 24'. As the conveyer moves in the direction shown by the arrowin Fig. 1 of the drawings', the disks are brought first withinthereachof the rake 31 and then inoperative relation to the bar 27. Thisbar swings around the shaft 28in unison with the screen 12, taking withit the' rake, theteeth of which, however, are actuated by the connectingrod 37 and the 'mechanism associated therewith; This. mechanism isso'timed, that, whenthe bar 27 movesin thedirectionof the movement oftheacting portion of the belt conveyer, the 1 said teeth arein theirlowermost positions (Fig. 4), in which the free ends of said teeth aredisposed at a slight distance above the belt conveyer. When the bar 27moves in the opposite direction, the connecting rod 37 tilts the levers36, thereby lifting the said teeth into the position shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, in which position they remain substantially to the end ofthe stroke of the bar 27 being lowered immediately before the said barstarts its movement in the direction of the movement of the actingportion of the belt conveyer. By so timing the movements of the bar .27and the teeth of the rake, the said teeth, when in their lowermostpositions, move in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, spreading and distributing the disks within reach over theentire width of the conveyer, here and there removing disks from thelowermost layer. They also have a tendency to keep the disks close tothe bar 27, which allows the disks but one deep to pass under it on theconveyer, removing disks on top of the lowermost layer in its movementin the direction opposite to that of the'acting portion of the beltconveyer.

The attendant inspects the disks in'front of the spreading anddistributing'means, removing the imperfect or defective ones. In asniuchas these disks are transported past the attendants seat but one deep,the attendant is in a position to readily distinguish the defectivedisks without handling the same.

It is obvious that, while herein a specific means has been described foractuating the screen and trough, and the spreading and distributingmeans has been shown as being driven by the said screen and trough, anyother means may be used for thispurpose without departing from theinvention, which lies mainly in the provision of a swinging frame havinga transverse bar disposed at a distance from a beltconveyer that issomewhat greater than the thickness of thecork disks, in combinationwitha rake upon said frame havingoscillatable teeth for the pa posespecified.

The shaft '28 may; be eccentrically mount ed upon'disks 53,said'disks-being' seatedin circular recessesb'i in the" frame 10." Byshifting the disks 53 in' their respectivere cesses, the distancebetween the bar 27 and the belt-conveyer may be: adjusted atwill; What Iclaim is 1. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with aconveyer adapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, 0f a frameprovided 'withj a bar located-transversely above said conveyer at adistance 'lessj'than the thickness of 'two; disks and greater than thethickness of a-singledisk, means for oscillating said frame and bar'maintaining the latter transversely of; said, eonveyer are distance lessthan the thickness of two disks, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said bar, and means carried by said frame for distributingthe disks over the width of said conveyer.

2. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a frame providedwith a bar located transversely above said conveyer at a distance lessthan the thickness of two disks and greater than the thickness of asingle disk, means for oscillating said frame and bar maintaining thelatter transversely of said conveyer at a distance less than thethickness of two disks, whereby the disks are caused to travel singlybelow said bar, and means carried by said frame extending rearwardlythereof for distributingthe disks over the width of said conveyer.

3. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with @Conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a frame providedwith a bar 'located transversely above said conveyer at a distance lessthan the thickness of two disks and greater than the thickness of asingle disk, means for oscillating said frame and bar maintaining thelatter'transversely of said conveyer at a distance less than thethickness of two disks, whereby the disks are caused to travel singlybelow said bar, and a rake carried by said frame for distributing thedisks over the width of said conveyer. i V

l. Ina machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a frame providedwith a bar located transversely above said conveyer at a distance lessthan the thickness of two disks and greater than the thickness of asingle disk, means for oscillating said frameand bar maintaining thelatter transversely of said conveyerat a distance less than thethickness of two disks, whereby the disks are caused to travel singlybelow said bar, and a rake carried by said frame extendingrearwardlythereof for distributing the disks over the width of saidconveyer.

5. In amachine for sorting disks, the combination with a'conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a frame providedwith a bar located transversely above said conveyer at a distance lessthan the thickness of two disks and greater than the thickness of asingle disk, means for oscillating said frame and bar maintaining thelatter transversely of said conveyer at a distance less than thethickness of two disks, whereby the disks are caused to travel singlybelow said bar, a rake mounted upon said frame having oscillatableteeth, and means for swinging said teeth toward and away from saidconveyer as said frame oscillates, said teqtb being brought toward saidconveyer when said frame moves'in the direction of travel of saidconveyer and away from said conveyer. when said frame moves in theopposite direction.

' 6. In a machlne for sorting disks,the combination with aconveyeradapted to receive below said bar, a rake mounted upon said frame havingoscillatable teeth, and means for swinging said teeth toward and awayfrom said conveyer as said frame oscillates, said teeth being broughttoward said conveyer when saidframe moves in the direction of travel ofsaid conveyer and away from said conveyer when said frame movesin theopposite direction, the space between two adjoining teeth of said rakebeing grelater than the diameter of an individual 7. In a machine forsorting disks, the combination with a conveyer adapted to receive a massof undistributed disks, of a frame provided with a bar locatedtransversely above said conveyer at a distance less than the thicknessof-two disks and greater than the thickness of a single disk, means foroscillating said frameand bar maintaining the latter transverselyof'saidconveyer at a distanceless than the thickness of two disks,whereby thedisks are caused to travel singly below said bar, and a rake carried bysaid frame for distributing the disks over the width of said conveyer,the distance between" two adjoiningteeth of saidrake be ing greater'thanthe diameter of an individ ual disk.

8. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with aconveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a frameprovided wit'h'a bar located transversely above 'said conveyer at adistance less than the thickness -oftwo disks and greater than the.thickness of a'single disk, means for oscillating said frame and barmaintaining the latter transversely of said conveyer at a distance lessthan thethickness of twodisks, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said bar, and a rake carried by said frame extendingrearwardly thereof for distributing the disks over the width of saidconveyer, the distance between two adjoining teeth of said rake beinggreater than the diameter of an,

individual disk.

l 9. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass ofundistribnted disks, of a bar extendingtransversely of said conveyer and swinging in the direction of themovement of said conveyer back and forth at a dis tance from the latterthat is less than the thickness of two disks and greater than thethickness of a single disk, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said bar.

10. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a bar extendingtransversely of said conveyer and swinging in the direction of themovement of said conveyer back and forth at a distance from the latterthat is less than the thickness of two disks and greater than thethickness of a single disk, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said bar, and means coacting with said barfor distributingthe disks over the widthsof the conveyer.

11. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a bar extendingtransversely of said conveyer and swinging in the direction of themovement of said conveyer back and forth at a distance from the latterthat is less than-the thickness of two disks and greater than thethickness of a single disk, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said bar, and means coacting with and disposcdin rear ofsaid bar for distributing the disks over the width of the conveyer. I

12. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with aconveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a barextending transversely of said conveyer and swinging in the direction ofthe movement of said conveyer back and forthat a distance from thelatter that is less than the thickness of two disks and greater than thethickness of a single disk, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below said. bar, and means moving with said bar for distributingthe disks over the width of the conveyor. 1 i 13. In a machine for;sorting, disks, the combination witha conveyer adapted to receive a massof undistributed disks, of abar extending transversely of said conveyerand swinging'in the direction of the, movement of said conveyer back andforth at a distance from the latter that is less than the thickness oftwo disks and greater than the thickness of a single disk,whereby thedisks are caused to travel singly below said bar, and means disposed inrear of and moving with said bar for distributing the disks over thewidth of said conveyer.

14:. In a machine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyeradapted to receive a mass of undistributed disks, of a bar extendingtransversely of said conveyer and swinging in the direction of themovement of said conveyer back and forth at adistance from the latterthat is less than the thickness of two disks and greater than thethickness of a single disk, whereby the disks are caused to travelsingly below saidfbar, and a rake cooperating with said bar fordistributing the disks over the width of said conveyer. V i 15. In amachine for sorting disks, the combination with a conveyer adapted toreceive a mass of undistributeddisks, of a bar extending transversely ofsaid conveyer and swinging in the direction of the movement 7 of saidconveyer backand forthat a distance from the latter that is less thanthe thickness of two disks and greater than the thickness of a singledisk, whereby the disks are caused to travel singly below said bar, anda rake moving with said ,bar for distributing the disks over the widthof said conveyer.

16,,In a machine for sorting disks, the

combination with a conveyer adapted to receivea mass of undistributeddisks, of a bar extending transversely of said conveyer and swinging inthe direction of the movement of said conveyer back and forth at a.distance from the latter that is less than the thickness of two disksand greater than the thickness of a single disk, whereby the disks arecaused to travelsingly below said bar, anda rake disposed in rear of andmoving with said bar for distributing the disks over the width of "saidconveyer.-" Signed at New York, in thjeicounty of New "York, and Stateof New "York, this 11th day of :February, A. D. 1919.

THOMAS

